Private Science and Technology Grants

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is offering its Senior Dance Grants Program, aligning with its mission to support community building and social interaction. This program is specifically designed to fund 501(c)(3) organizations that offer music and dancing programs aimed at seniors. The grant duration is up to one year, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and a maximum grant award of $10,000 per concentration. This initiative underscores the Foundation's strategic priority to foster programs that directly benefit specific demographics within San Luis Obispo County, thereby contributing to its broader theory of change which emphasizes community well-being through engagement and support for local non-profits. The target beneficiaries of this program are seniors within San Luis Obispo County, with a primary goal of encouraging social interaction and community building. The Foundation's focus is on programs that use music and dancing as a medium to achieve these objectives. The expected outcomes include increased social engagement among seniors, improved community connections, and enhanced quality of life through participation in structured, enjoyable activities. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the funding amounts and grant duration, the emphasis on "social interaction and community building" suggests that successful applicants would demonstrate how their programs contribute to these areas, potentially through participation rates, feedback, or observed improvements in social connectivity. Eligibility for the Senior Dance Grants Program requires applicants to possess current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a memorandum of understanding for fiscal sponsorship. The Foundation has a clear set of exclusions, indicating its priorities and what it deems outside the scope of its funding. These exclusions include grants to individuals, organizations that discriminate, fraternal organizations (unless for community-wide programs), governmental organizations, and those with indirect administrative costs exceeding 15% of the awarded funds. The Foundation also excludes funding for fundraising events, religiously affiliated organizations (unless open to all), political campaigns, organizations outside San Luis Obispo County (unless for specific local benefit), debt repayment, endowment funds, and scholarships or research. These exclusions highlight the Foundation's strategic priorities: to support programs that are inclusive, directly benefit the community, operate efficiently with reasonable administrative costs, and focus on direct program delivery rather than fundraising or political activities. By carefully defining what it will not fund, the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County ensures that its resources are directed towards programs that most effectively align with its mission of enhancing community life, particularly for seniors, through direct and impactful interventions in San Luis Obispo County.

The MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowship offers $10,000 plus up to $5,000 for expenses to U.S. journalists, both freelance and staff, to develop a news project that localizes the impact of climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy, with a focus on local perspectives and solutions, aiming to engage and empower their audience.

The Najim Charitable Foundation offers grants to support children in the Greater San Antonio area. The Foundation's mission is aligned with assisting children in critical areas such as Food, Shelter, Clothing, Child Abuse/Neglect, Developmental Disabilities, Education (PreK – 12, Out of School, Post-Secondary), Foster Care, Homelessness, Mental Health, Medical Treatment, and Substance Abuse, as well as other charitable purposes benefiting children. This grant program is a direct reflection of the Foundation's strategic priority to address the holistic needs of vulnerable children within their defined geographical scope. The target beneficiaries for these grants are children residing in specific Texas counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson. The impact goals are to significantly improve the well-being and life outcomes for these children by providing essential resources and support. This includes ensuring access to basic necessities, protection from harm, opportunities for development and education, and crucial mental and physical health services. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these fundamental areas, they can foster healthier, safer, and more educated children, leading to long-term positive community impacts. The Foundation's funding priorities are explicitly focused on a range of services designed to support children. These include direct assistance for food, shelter, and clothing, as well as critical interventions for child abuse/neglect, developmental disabilities, and mental health. Education is a key focus, spanning from PreK to post-secondary, with a particular emphasis on out-of-school programs. Support for foster care, homelessness, medical treatment, and substance abuse further highlights the comprehensive nature of their commitment to children's welfare. Eligibility criteria stipulate that only Section 501(c)(3) organizations that have been operating for three or more years may apply. These organizations must also be qualified as 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2), with this designation appearing on their IRS Determination letter. If an organization is a 509(a)(3), a legal opinion is required. Grants are exclusively awarded for the stated purposes and to 501(c)(3) organizations located in and serving children within the specified counties. The Foundation explicitly does not fund higher education organizations, individuals, capital campaigns, multi-year requests, adult populations, sponsorships, galas, or events, and limits organizations to one grant request per calendar year, contingent on the full expenditure and reporting of prior year grants.

This funding opportunity supports researchers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico studying the effectiveness of rehabilitation services for patients with neurological impairments in inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit cultural organizations, municipalities, and higher education institutions for projects that improve or expand cultural facilities, enhancing community access and tourism.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in Philadelphia and Camden to develop inclusive plans for improving green spaces in underserved neighborhoods, ensuring resident involvement and addressing historical inequities.

This grant provides funding for high school teams to create innovative plans that promote clean energy initiatives in their schools and communities, while connecting students to future career opportunities in the clean energy sector.

This grant provides funding to journalists and media organizations in Alaska for in-depth reporting on complex and underreported issues, as well as arts and culture stories, to enhance public understanding and engagement.

Progressive Multiplier offers grants, loans, and resources to progressive nonprofits, supporting them in scaling their projects and revenue generation efforts, with a focus on issues like clean energy, climate change, economic justice, and various rights, while also encouraging outreach across political divides.

The McKnight Fellowship for Ceramic Artists, administered by the Northern Clay Center, is designed to support outstanding mid-career ceramic artists in Minnesota. This fellowship aligns with the broader mission of recognizing and fostering artistic excellence and sustained accomplishment within the state's vibrant arts community. The program aims to empower artists, regardless of their specific methodology—be it functional, sculptural, or relational—by providing resources that enable growth and innovation in their craft. The primary beneficiaries of this program are mid-career Minnesota ceramic artists who demonstrate a consistent level of commitment and artistic excellence. The program's impact goals include providing significant financial support, encouraging experimentation with new techniques and materials, facilitating collaborations, and offering opportunities for education, exhibition, or travel. By investing in these artists, the fellowship seeks to strengthen the ceramic arts landscape in Minnesota and contribute to the artists' long-term career development. The fellowship prioritizes artists who have maintained Minnesota residency for at least one year prior to application and for the duration of the fellowship year. It focuses on supporting those who have not received a McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship in any artistic discipline within the last five years, ensuring equitable distribution of support. Furthermore, the program looks for artists who can demonstrate ongoing artistic growth and development since any previous McKnight fellowship. Expected outcomes include the creation of new works, the acquisition of new skills or materials, successful collaborations, and participation in educational or exhibition opportunities, all contributing to the artists' continued artistic advancement. The measurable results are the two $25,000 grants awarded annually, directly supporting the selected artists in achieving these outcomes. This investment reflects a strategic priority to cultivate a thriving artistic community in Minnesota by directly supporting the careers of accomplished artists and fostering innovation within the ceramic arts.

This funding opportunity supports research projects that explore how race, citizenship, and public policy impact the integration and outcomes of immigrants in the United States.

The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) is currently accepting applications for its fall grant cycle, inviting projects that aim to make a positive impact on Huron County, Michigan. As a nonprofit community corporation, HCCF's mission is deeply rooted in supporting the people of Huron County by fostering prosperity. This is achieved through a focus on Community & Economic Growth, aligning the grant program directly with the foundation's core purpose of enhancing the well-being and development of the region. HCCF's strategic priorities are designed to cultivate a thriving environment within Huron County. These include retaining and attracting a talented, trained workforce, creating vibrant and dynamic communities, and cultivating an environment conducive to business development. Projects addressing these areas are given preference for unrestricted grantmaking dollars. This focus reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by investing in these key areas, they can catalyze broader community and economic growth, leading to a more prosperous future for all residents. Beyond the strategic priorities, the HCCF also encourages applications for projects that address numerous other interest areas, indicating a broad scope for potential beneficiaries. These areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Health & Medicine, Basic Needs Services, Beautification of Huron County, Natural Areas Preservation, Disadvantaged Youth, Recreation, and Women in STEM. This diverse range of focus areas ensures that a wide array of community needs and interests can be supported, reflecting a comprehensive approach to community development and impact. Applicants are required to submit a detailed project narrative, outlining the project's description and purpose, including its location and the number of people it will serve. This narrative should also address the project's long-term impact and measurable results, demonstrating how the grant from HCCF would be recognized. Furthermore, applicants must describe their evaluation methods to determine if their purpose was accomplished, and provide a budget with estimated income and expenses. These guidelines are designed to ensure accountability and to help the HCCF assess the potential effectiveness and sustainability of each proposed project, ultimately aiming for impactful and measurable outcomes that align with the foundation's mission.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Pennsylvania to create educational programs that promote fishing and boating, focusing on attracting new participants, retaining current ones, and reactivating former anglers and boaters.

The 2025 Community Grants program, offered by the Community Foundation for the CSRA, invites applications from organizations dedicated to serving individuals in specific counties of Georgia and South Carolina. This program directly aligns with the Foundation's mission to support various community needs, encompassing arts/culture/history, education/youth enrichment, health/environmental, and people in need. The Foundation seeks to foster innovative and high-quality programs that deliver positive, tangible impacts within these strategic areas, ultimately aiming for community betterment and individual empowerment. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are individuals residing in Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina, and Burke, Columbia, Richmond, and McDuffie counties in Georgia. The Foundation aims to achieve significant impact goals, such as enhancing cultural and historical engagement, providing educational and enrichment opportunities for disadvantaged children, youth, and adults, improving health and environmental outcomes, and offering essential human services to vulnerable populations. Through these grants, the Foundation intends to address critical community challenges and improve the quality of life for residents in its service area. The program prioritizes several key areas. In arts, culture, and history, it encourages innovative and high-quality initiatives. For education and youth enrichment, the focus is on programs that provide educational opportunities and skills training for disadvantaged individuals, including job skill training, after-school programs, leadership development, tutoring, GED, and literacy initiatives. Within health and environmental, the Foundation supports areas such as environmental research, animal services, sustainable gardens, medical clinics, drug rehabilitation, and programs for individuals with disabilities and mental illness. Finally, the "People in Need" category broadly supports human service programs, including those addressing hunger, housing insecurity, financial assistance, homelessness, and re-entry programs for recently incarcerated individuals. The expected outcomes of the Community Grants program include a measurable increase in access to educational resources, improved health indicators, enhanced cultural participation, and greater support for vulnerable populations. For instance, educational programs are expected to lead to improved literacy rates or job placement success. Health initiatives anticipate better access to medical services or environmental conservation efforts. Programs for people in need are expected to provide stable housing, food security, or financial independence. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these critical areas through local organizations, it can foster a stronger, more resilient, and equitable community for all residents within its geographic focus. Requests for funding should not exceed $15,000 to maximize the reach of the grants.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is offering a grant of $2000 for projects that address urgent, unforeseen situations on designated water trails, with the aim of creating recreational opportunities, supporting sustainable use of natural resources, and improving access to Pennsylvania Water Trails.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that support underrepresented populations in the commercial real estate sector through employment training, entrepreneurship resources, and investment education.

This track supports projects that examine the impact of climate change on communities within Massachusetts, highlighting local knowledge, experiences, and strategies for resilience. Offering up to $20,000, the grant focuses on narrative projects that use humanities methodologies to discuss climate-related changes and challenges. Projects should not include capital projects, feasibility studies, or collections preservation. Applicants must demonstrate how their work contributes to a broader understanding of climate impacts on local communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Maryland schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to enhance environmental education and engage students in hands-on learning experiences that promote environmental stewardship.

This grant provides funding for nonprofits and public organizations in Louisiana to create small-scale humanities projects that engage local communities and explore the state's unique history and culture.

The West Haven ARPA Grant, administered by The Arts Council of Greater New Haven (ACGNH) in partnership with ArtsWest CT, aims to rapidly stimulate arts and culture activity in West Haven, CT. With $116,250 of ARPA funds from the City of West Haven, the program seeks to distribute microgrants of $2,500-$10,000 to artists, arts organizations, and creative businesses within the city. This initiative aligns with the ACGNH's mission to support and foster arts and culture within the greater New Haven area, extending its reach to West Haven to ensure a vibrant creative economy and community engagement. The target beneficiaries for these microgrants are individuals over 18 years of age, or organizations/collectives with a representative over 18, who are either based in West Haven or proposing a project that directly serves the West Haven community. The primary impact goal is to stimulate artistic, historical, and/or culturally-specific activities within West Haven during the project period of July-August 2024. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrate feasibility and can be easily executed within the short timeframe, with a strong emphasis on projects that foster equity and inclusion, and strengthen community ties within West Haven. The grant focuses on two main categories for the use of funds: General Operating Support (GOS) and Project Support. GOS includes expenses like rent, equipment purchases/rentals, subscriptions, printing/mailing, and contract labor (e.g., graphic designers, consultants). Project Support covers physical materials, ground transportation, commissions, contract labor (e.g., performers, consultants, designers), advertising, and venue rental. Notably, expenses for salaried employees paid via payroll (W-2 employees) are not eligible, and recipients will receive a 1099, responsible for their own income taxes. Expected outcomes include a rapid increase in arts and culture activities within West Haven during the summer of 2024, with measurable results tied to the feasibility, equity, and community impact of the funded projects. The evaluation criteria, Feasibility, Equity + Inclusion, and Community, are designed to guide applicants towards projects that are not only achievable within the project period but also actively incorporate, serve, and support historically marginalized residents and activate and elevate the broader West Haven community through partnerships. This strategic approach reflects a theory of change where targeted financial support, with an emphasis on local engagement and accessible execution, leads to a flourishing local arts scene and enhanced community well-being.